Masrour Barzani Meets Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi in Baghdad for Talks on Erbil-Baghdad Disputes
Peregraf — Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi in Baghdad on Saturday during an official visit focused on relations between Erbil and Baghdad, electricity reform, oil exports, security, and ongoing financial disputes.
According to a statement from the KRG, Masrour Barzani congratulated al-Zaidi on assuming office and reaffirmed the KRG's support for the success of the new Iraqi government "in serving all components and citizens of Iraq without discrimination."
Barzani also stressed the importance of "fundamentally resolving the outstanding issues" between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government based on the Iraqi constitution and respect for the Kurdistan Region's federal status.
For his part, al-Zaidi welcomed the visit and said: "We are all partners in this country, and our goal is to resolve the issues, reach an agreement, and serve all citizens and components without discrimination."
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and coordination between Baghdad and Erbil to address current obstacles and disputes.
Runaki Electricity Project Presented
Ahead of the visit, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said the KRG planned to present its Runaki ("Lighting") electricity project as a model for Iraq's electricity sector reforms.
"We will offer the KRG's unique experience with the 24-hour Runaki programme to the new federal government, including technical assistance and access to our technology to accelerate Prime Minister al-Zaidi's ambitions for electricity sector reform," Ahmad said.
Launched in October 2024, the project claims to provide uninterrupted 24-hour electricity to nearly 5.5 million residents — more than 85 percent of the Kurdistan Region's population, according to KRG figures.
The initiative aims to eliminate dependence on private diesel generators and expand continuous electricity coverage across the Kurdistan Region by the end of 2026.
Oil Exports and Drone Attacks
Ahmad also said Masrour Barzani would seek follow-up on security guarantees intended to allow international oil and gas companies operating in the Kurdistan Region to resume production and exports.
"Companies cannot be expected to resume operations amid the threat of drones in the skies," he said.
The remarks follow repeated drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure and oil-related sites in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
According to Ahmad, restoring suspended operations could potentially increase Iraq's oil export capacity by more than 500,000 barrels per day.
Salary and Financial Disputes
The discussions are also expected to address disputes over Kurdistan Region salaries, oil revenues, and implementation of financial agreements between the KRG and the Iraqi federal government.
Tensions have escalated in recent days after Baghdad signaled that Kurdistan Region employees and retirees may not receive May salaries before Eid due to disagreements over revenue transfers and required financial procedures.
Electricity Reform Efforts in Baghdad
The meeting comes as the Iraqi federal government intensifies efforts to address chronic electricity shortages ahead of the summer season.
On Thursday, Ali al-Zaidi visited Iraq's Ministry of Electricity and chaired a meeting on stabilizing the national power grid during peak demand.
Al-Zaidi described the electricity sector as a key pillar of his government's reform agenda and pledged to increase electricity supply hours and reduce outages across Iraq.